Explore Abbey’s darker side

Victorian costumed character on staircase at Middleham Castle, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire

Published:10:01Wednesday 26 October 2011

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By day, Whitby Abbey is a welcoming ruin which echoes with the celebrations that took place there.

By night, however, it becomes home to a thousand shadows.

This weekend, the floodlit ruins of the abbey will play host to Whitby’s spookiest ghost stories in a series of evening tours to send shivers down the spine!

On Friday and Saturday, a pair of Victorian explorers will take visitors to experience the site by night, telling tales inspired by great Gothic authors including Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley in the ruins that inspired one of the greatest horror icons or all time – Dracula!

Events manager Jon Hogan explains: “As anyone who enjoyed our Nights of Victorian Gothic last October will know, Whitby Abbey is a fantastic site to visit after dark.

“But this year with smaller groups being admitted to the site, it will become a much quieter and atmospheric place – ideal for our Victorian storytelling.

“As the evening gets darker, so do the stories, so whilst our 5.30pm tour is suitable for children, we don’t recommend the 7pm tour for under 10s and it will be interesting to see how many are brave enough to join our 10pm storytelling.”

There are four tours each evening, at 5.30pm, 7pm, 8.30pm and 10pm.

Each lasts for around an hour, and costs £10 for adults, £9 concessions and £8 for children (5.30pm tour only).

English Heritage members receive a discount of £1.50 per ticket.

Participants are recommended to wear warm clothes suitable for an autumn evening and stout footwear, as the ground is uneven.

Pre-booking is essential as places are limited.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the site, or over the phone on 0870 333 1181.

For more information please call (01947) 603568 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/whitby